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The Broke and The Bookish‘s topic for this week is out Top Ten Best Sequels Ever. There were a few easy choices for me this week but not nearly enough for 10 as I often find the sequels aren’t quite as good but I have managed to pick out 9 (some from the same series) that I thought were particularly good.

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver Delirium Trilogy

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games Trilogy

Passion by Lauren Kate Fallen Series

The Lion , The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis The Chronicles of Narnia

This week The Broke and The Bookish‘s topic is our Top Ten Books Featuring Travel In Some Way. I didn’t think I was going to find this topic that easy when I first seen it but once I started thinking about it there were quite a few books to choose from. I have cheated a little by adding a few series but these are the ones I enjoy the most. My favourite is the last one on the list but the rest are in no particular order.

The final book in the spin of series from The Saga of Darren Shan about Larten Crepsley was definitely the best one.

Carrying on from the previous book Larten starts off enjoying his life with an assistant and human companion. However the world of humans is about to go through two great wars and during this time he see’s many things that change him. On top of this there is a great personal tragedy to deal with and this leads to him losing his way for a bit. His character changes for a while during this time and it was interesting to find out what had influenced to be the man he became in Darren’s story. He also meets some interesting characters some that shape him and others that we meet again. I enjoyed getting to know how these people played out in his past and it offered explanations into how he acted with the people later on. There was also some new characters that showed of Darren’s imagination as an author but one of my favourite characters was the one that brought Larten solitude and peace and I think influenced him a lot.

The book cleverly brought in all the bits of his past to lead up to the meeting of Darren but still had its own story with a heart breaking twist. I really enjoyed how the book came together introducing characters we already know including how he got his spider. However I think what made this one so much better than the others was the book had its own story. Larten had a mission and that drove him in his life and gave us something to will him to achieve. This also gave the ending its impact and I think I will be reading it again soon to enjoy the emotions of his story once more.

I haven’t really been keep up well with Top Ten Tuesday. I was last for a couple of posts and then totally missed a couple but I decided that for last weeks, which was Tips for Book Bloggers, I would just read the other posts to get some idea’s as I haven’t been doing it very long.

This weeks Top Ten Tuesday from The Broke and The Bookish is the Top Ten All Time Favourite Characters in Books. It was actually a very difficult one to pick as I have read so many books, so they are in no particular order;

1. ‘Freak’ Fred from The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer. This book was really good because she has already taken a character out of a book to make a new one. I particularly like the character of Fred as he wasn’t part of the violent world that was surrounding them. He used his skill to keep himself to himself and watch what was going on around him. He knew things weren’t right and he could see the Bree had a quite nature like him and wanted to help her. I would love to find out what happened to him.

2. Zach from The Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter. What I liked about Zach was that you couldn’t work him out. Sometimes I was convinced by his affection for Cammi but there was always the secrets he was keeping. Even through the latest book there was till questions over whose side he is really on and it make thing interesting. I do think that I want them to be together in the end though, just like Ron and Hermione.

3. Mr Crepsley from The Darren Shan Saga and The Saga of Larten Crepsley by Darren Shan. When you first meet Mr Crepsley in The Darren Shan Saga you don’t know if he is a good character of not. He seems to be nasty and it is obvious he doesn’t approve of what he is doing. However as you continue through the books you grow to love the character as a wise man that has the ability to be more powerful than he is but wants to do things on his own terms. I really respect that about him, as well as his loyalty to the clan and in the end even Darren. I think the new series just about him has made me appreciate his life more, particularly him as a child and how he came to be the man at that entered Darren’s life.

4. Zero (Hector Zeroni) from Holes by Louis Sachar. In both the book and the film Zero is such a lovable character. He is treated with such disrespect being called stupid but he is just misunderstood. When Stanley takes the time to get to know him you realise that all he really wants is to have his mum again and if someone just gave him the time he could really be someone great. Together the two make both their lives better and Zero gets to be with his mum again

5. Cinna from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Cinna is the one character from the capital that seems to still treat people like equals. He sees something in Katniss that the others don’t and brings it out in her even just through clothes. I love that he embraces her pin and makes her brand, even leaving outfits for her. He is my favourite characters in the book because of his humanity in what is such a messed up society.

6. Neville Long Bottom in Harry Potter by JK Rowling. Out of all the characters in the books Neville is the one of ones that has no bad moments. He is a clumsy new wizard in the first book but develops into being great at something he loves and will make his parents proud. My favourite thing about him however is his courage and although he often comes across as weak and pathetic he isn’t. In book one he stands up to his friends and in book seven he fights for Harry, if courage and loyalty aren’t worth loving nothing is.

7. Dobby from Harry Potter by JK Rowling. Dobby brings something different to the series and I am really pleased that he became such an important part to the story after book two. I think he was developed very well from a pest to Harry to having his own life in Hogwarts and in the end saving Harry and his friends. It was interesting to have a totally non-human character that you could love so much and he definitely enhanced the story.

8. Alice Tully from Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy. During the book Alice is a character that you want to not like but can’t help feel sorry for. Her story is one of tragedy for no just her but those involved and you can’t help thinking that you shouldn’t be feeling that she deserves more. However she is a well written character and it allows you to look at the situation from a different perspective and realise that everyone should be allowed the chance to be free and a good person.

9. Bella Swan from The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer. In the books, particularly the first one, I found that I could relate very well to Bella. She was just a normal clumsy girl and I think the great thing about reading her is that everyone can see themselves in her. It was easy to get caught up in her emotions and wanting to find out the things she did and a good character is what makes a good book.

10. Mister Tom from Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian . At first Tom seems like a typical old man, grumpy and uninterested, but when you learn his story it is easy to understand what mad him that way. I love however that despite of this situation he finds it in himself to deal with this new problem in his life and I think that in the end it allows him to deal with all the issues he has been having. He need someone to help him get motivate and when he opens up and embraces having William you feel so pleased that he can finally move on with his life and fill his home with happiness and love again.

Again my post is late but I do have a real excuse this week; the internet was down because of the snow !!
This week is Top ten books to read in a day. I’ve decided to answer it from the view that if I knew I only had a day to read a book what would I pick off my shelf.

1. Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy

An easy one day read but it is still full of anticipation and a really great read.

2. Red Tears by Joanne Kenrick

Not a book for younger readers as it deals with a sensitive issue but a very short and powerful book that helps you understand the sometimes complicated inner workings of a teenager.

3. I’d Tell You I Love You, but Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

Action packed and a different idea. This is a story of a school for female spies. A nice interlinking of action and teen romance it will have you wanting to finish in a day.

4. Holes by Louis Sachar

I really like this book. It is easy to read but also an heartwarming story. I would happily pick this up on any day.

5. The Puzzle Master by Heather Spiva

A very short story about two young teenagers trying to make the most of living with different untreatable conditions. It seems like an innocent story but actually it is full of a lot more. Worth reading any time.

6. Vegan, Virgin, Valentine by Carolyn Macker

A funny book about coming of age and dealing with all everything that comes with it. Love, last year of exams, fitting in work and dealing with family. An amusing read for a relaxing day off.

7. The Poison Apple’s by Lilly Archer

If you have a spare day this is an amusing little book about dealing with step parents.

8. Switched by Amanda Hocking

An interesting idea moving away from the typical vampire, wearwolf theme and looking at trolls. Easy to read and an interesting plot line. A good trilogy that you could easily read 1 a day.

9. The Saga of Larten Crepsley (1) Birth of a Killer by Darren Shan

If you have read ‘The Sags of Darren Shan’ you will love this short book all about one of the best characters in that series. Easy to read and a very interesting insight into his life

10. my Kindle It may be cheating but it is easy to get really cheap books that only take a day to read and I can’t really pick one. So if you want a quick one day read have a look at the books for kindle and I’m sure you will find one you will like.

This weeks Top Ten Tuesday from The Broke and The Bookish is the Top Ten Books on your Spring to-be-read list. I wasn’t 100% sure how i was going to do this so I have decided on the books I am reading at the moment and then the new releases I am getting in the next couple of months. (plus on more to make then ten).

1,2,3,4. Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras by Scott Westerfield

This dystopian series has been on my to read list for a while and I am finally getting round to it. I have managed to get through the first one a couple of times but never the rest so I am looking forward to finally finding out what happens to the characters.

5. Callum by Malorie Blackman

This is just a short story released for World Book Day but I can’t wait to read it. I loved the first book, it made me cry, and I can’t wait to hear some more of Callum side of the story. I may even re-read the first book.

6. The Saga of Larten Crepsley(4) Brothers to the Death by Darren Shan

The concluding book in this saga, I am looking forward to where his story ends. I have really enjoy reading about this character again after finishing the Darren Shan saga so long ago.

7. Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Another dystopian series I have currently got my teeth into. This is the sequel to Divergent, which I think is my favourite book of this genre. I can’t wait to see where the next book will take us, the story so far has been exciting and gripping filling me with desire for what I want to happen next.

8. Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

An unexpected new book in the Gallagher Girls series. I have no idea what book 5 is going to be about but from past experience it will be full of fast paced action, suspicion and a little bit of typical teenage girl goings on.

9. Thumped by Megan McCafferty

The ending of the first book ‘Bumped’ was not what I had expected, I never imagined it opening the way for further books. However it was a good twist and I am looking forward to finding out what happened next.

10. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

I have been trying to get through this book for about 6 years and I still haven’t finished it. I have re-started it many a time and I am currently about two thirds of the way through. This spring I intent on finally getting it finished once and for all.